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I think that we must come together progressively, with the British, the Germans, the Spanish, the Italians and with the new members of the European Union, we must make an effort to forge closer links.

There have been major disagreements within the European Union.

We should seek to cooperate with Europe, not to divide Europe to a fictitious new and a fictitious old.

Whatever the details of union may be, there's no doubt we need more policy coordination in Europe.

It does not seem to me that the steps which would be needed to make Britain - and others - more comfortable in their relationship in the European Union are inherently so outlandish or unreasonable.

I have been supporting the European Union, but we are still a work in progress. We have to become more of a United States of Europe. We should talk about electing a president of the E.U., rather than having one selected from the heads of government.

Europe has a lot of strength. We need to pool that strength, and I am very much in favour of that - more of a deeper political union.

In the long run, Europe will certainly move toward unification. But it will be a process of push and pull, and there will be resistance.

If the discussion centres on the essential principle of the E.U., the free movement of people and the ability to make decisions together, in that case, we don't want treaty change.

Because with courage and conviction I believe we can deliver a more flexible, adaptable and open European Union in which the interests and ambitions of all its members can be met.